Humidifier for internal-combustion engines



Jan. 3, 1928.

M. C. MAYO HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept. 7. 1922 www kwil/ w Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics.

MILFORD C. MAYO, OF CANTONQOHO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF CANTON, OHIO.

TO FRANK FOREST, 0F

HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNA'L-COMB*US'IION ENGINES.

Application led September 7, 1922; Sera1`No. 586,643.

This invention relates .to4 a device vfor supplying automobile engines with moisture or vapor independently ot the carburcter action7 and the objects of the invention are 'to provide an attachment whereby aigraduated amount ot moisture may be admitted to the engine cylinders so as to supply the cylinders with a proper mixture for the most perfeet combustion, and to increase the power of the engine and eliminate toa great extent, carbon deposits within the cylinder and. upon the spark plugs. i

Thea-beve and other objects may be attainedby connecting a tube to the usual` overtlow pipe of the radiator, drain open ings being provided in the lower portion o't the tube for allowing water overi'lowing from the radiator to pass out oft the' tube, a pipe being connected in the upper portion ot the tube7 at a height sutlicientvto prevent li tting oit water, while permitting vapor or moisture to he drawn therein, this pipe being connected to a valve which communicates with the intake manit'old oit the engine, means being provided :tor adjusting the valve to regulate the amount ot moisture taken into the cylinders.

lAn embodiment ot the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- .Figure 1 is a general elevation ot an automobile engine showing the improved vaporizer applied thereto;

Fig. 2, a sectional view ot the tube which surrounds the overlow pipe;

Fig. 3, a sectional view ot the valve; and

Fig. at, a sectional view of the adjust-ing mechanism which may be mounted upon the dash or instrument board of the automobile.

Similar' numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

In the usual automobile engine, with proper adjustmentor' the carbu'reter, the gasoline and air which are supplied to the engine from the car are mixed 1n proper proportions for the requirements of the engine at the starting and during the comparatively slow speeds, when the mixture 1n the combustion chamber is not subject to as high pressure and temperature as prevails under high speeds when the engine becomes heated and accordingly there is not sutlicient air or moisture in the mixture to cause comlete combustion when the engine is running at the higher speeds and the ignition takes place more 'frequently and with duration.

7Vith the .present invention this objection is' overcome, and additional air, together with moisture may be admitted into the engine cylinders in proportion to the requirements at increased speeds, by means ot au inlet valve connected vto a tube surrounding thev overflow pipe of the radiator, the valve being located in the intake manilold o'j the engine and arranged to be manually adjusted from the drivers seat to regulate the amount ot air and moisture admitted to the cylinders.

The engine employed ttor illustrating the invention, includ-es the intake manifold 1 connected with the cylinders in the usual manner, the carbureter 2 connected to the intake manifold, the exhaust manifold 3, the radiator-l and the radiator overilowpipe The dash or instrument board et the automobile is shown in section at 6.

A tube 7, ot' considerably greater diameter than the overflow pipe 5, surrounds the lower portion of the overliow pipe being sealed at its upper end to the overflow pipe as at 8, the lower end of the tube being closed and bent at an angle, forming an attaching lug 9 which may be connected to the trame 10 ot the automobile as by a bolt 11, one or more drain apertures 12 being provided in the lower portion of the tube to provide'tor a constant drainage ot any water which overilows from the radiator through the overflow pipe 5.

A pipe 13 is connected to the upper portion of the tube 7 at a sutlicient height above 'the drain apertures 12 to prevent lifting of water through the tube 7, while at theV same time vapor or moisture emanating from the overiow pipe will be drawn into the pipe 13 by the suction of the engine cylinders.

A valve casing 14 is provided with a. threaded nipple 15 extended into the intake manifold 1, said valve casing being connected at one end to the pipe 13 and having a valve 16 slidably mounted therein and normally held in closed position by means of the coil spring 17 located around the valve stem 18 and interposed betweenthe head of the valve and the adjacent end wall of the valve casing.

A wire or the like 19 connects the valve stem with the grooved shank 2O provided with annular grooves 21 and slidably mountllt) ed within the tubular bearing 22 which isy located through the dash or instrument board 6 and provided with a face plate 23 connected to said board.

A knob 24 is provided upon the shank 21 for sliding the same within the bearing 22 and for the purpose of holding the shank in any desired adjustment, a pawl 25 is located in the bore 26 and normally urged into the adjacent groove 21 by the compression spring 27.

The operation of the device will be obvious from the above description. When it is desired to increase the supply of air vto the cylinders as well as to admit vapor or moisture to the same, the knob 24 will be pulled, opening the-valve 16 to the desired extent, the pawl 25 automatically dropping into the proper notch 21 to hold the valve in the adjusted position.

The suction of the cylinders will thus draw vapor or steam from the overflow pipe upward through the tube 7 and through the pipe 13 into the intake manifold. The drain apertures 12 will permit drainage of any overfiow of water from the'radiatorl and the pipe 13 being connected near the upper end of the tube 7 water will not be lifted through the tube 7 into said pipe, while the steam'or vapor may be drawn from the overflow pipe 5 through the tube 7 and into the I claim Y. 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine including a radiator having an overflow pipe and cylinders and an intake manifold, a tube surrounding the greater portion of the overflow pipe and spaced therefrom and provided with drain apertures in its lower portion, the overflow pipe extending to the 'lower portion of the tube and a pipe connecting' the upper portion of said tube with the intake manifold, said pipe being spaced sufficiently abovethe outlet of the overflow pipe to prevent water from the overflow pipe being drawn into Vthe cylinders.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine including a radiator having an overflow pipe and cylinders and an intake manifold, a tube surrounding the greater portion ofthe overflow pipe and spaced therefrom and provided with drain apertures in its lower portion, the overflow pipe extending to the lower portion of the tube, a valve connected to the intake manifold, a pipe connecting the upperportion 'of said tube to the valve and means for adjusting the valve from the drivers seat. Y

MILFORD C. MAYO.

cylinders. 

